Chapter 29

Zhou Yanjing asked her, “Is he your friend?” 

His tone was as casual as always, yet it somehow made Lin Yuxi’s tense body relax. 

She shook her head, “I don’t know him.” 

“Don’t know him, but chatting so eagerly,” Zhou Yanjing said, teasing her, “Attracting attention wherever you go.” 

Lin Yuxi couldn’t help but retort, “I’m not attracting anyone.” 

“Alright, alright, you’re not,” Zhou Yanjing replied, his voice carrying a hint of amusement and indulgence. 

With his right hand around Lin Yuxi in a natural yet intimate gesture, there was an unmistakable air of possessiveness. His eyes lifted lazily, glancing toward the man opposite them. 

Though it appeared casual, that look carried a sharp and overwhelming pressure, enough to make a cold sweat break out on Wei Bin’s back almost instantly. 

“And you are?” Zhou Yanjing asked indifferently. 

Wei Bin quickly lowered his tone, “My name is Wei Bin. We met before at Fuming Mountain.” 

“Fuming Mountain?” Zhou Yanjing seemed to search his memory but couldn’t recall. “No memory of it.” 

Wei Bin’s smile stiffened slightly. “You’ve probably forgotten, being so important and all.” 

The encounter at Fuming Mountain had been a chance one. Wei Bin and some friends had gone there for camping, not expecting to see the second young master of the Zhou family with his new wife, also there to watch the meteor shower. 

Naturally, Wei Bin had greeted them. His family wasn’t prominent in Lin City, so someone like him wouldn’t leave much of an impression on Zhou Yanjing, who exchanged a few polite words before leaving with Lin Yuxi. 

It had been chilly, as spring hadn’t fully arrived, and Lin Yuxi had wrapped herself in thick layers, with only her fair, slightly flushed face visible beneath her hat. 

At that moment, Wei Bin had been struck by her beauty. Zhou Yanjing’s wife certainly lived up to her reputation. 

Later, at the camping base, their tent was far from Zhou Yanjing’s. 

Wherever the second young master of the Zhou family went, there was always a certain level of grandeur. He had booked out a whole section of the campsite for privacy. 

Wei Bin hadn’t intended to disturb them, but after drinking with his friends, he felt dizzy. On his way back from the restroom in the dark, he accidentally wandered into Zhou Yanjing’s area. 

That section was particularly quiet due to the private booking. Wei Bin could vaguely hear a woman’s soft, suppressed moans, as if she was biting her lip, enduring something. 

The man’s voice was deep, hoarse, yet clearer, unusually gentle and playful, saying things that made Wei Bin blush just hearing them. 

Realizing what was happening, Wei Bin sobered up immediately. 

There was only one tent with a light hanging outside, and the figures inside were blurry. 

Wei Bin wasn’t an inexperienced kid he knew exactly what they were doing. 

He quickly turned around, but could still hear the woman’s soft, delicate cries, mingled with a slight, pitiful sob. 

Wei Bin had been with women who made even more enchanting sounds, but maybe because he’d had too much to drink that night, or because it was Zhou Yanjing’s wife, something about it stirred him deeply. 

He couldn’t stop thinking about it for days, and it even filled his dreams. 

Over time, he had mostly forgotten, until now seeing Lin Yuxi walk into the party reignited that old flame, even stronger than before. 

But no matter how much he desired Lin Yuxi, he wasn’t foolish enough to make a direct move. 

Going up against Zhou Yanjing would be a death wish. 

Still, he wasn’t too worried. He’d heard the rumors. No matter how beautiful Lin Yuxi was, Zhou Yanjing was the kind of man who would throw her away like trash once he was bored. 

Eventually, this woman would fall into his hands. 

Wei Bin hid his thoughts well, flattering Zhou Yanjing a bit more before excusing himself. 

The second young master remained as arrogant as ever, not even bothering to give Wei Bin a glance. 

Zhou Yanjing seemed distracted, his mind elsewhere. 

He glanced at the food on Lin Yuxi’s plate. “So little. Are you feeding a cat?” 

Though he complained about the small amount, without waiting for an answer, he casually took a small piece of blueberry cake from her plate and ate it. 

Lin Yuxi held the plate, unsure of what to say. 

“What’s with that look? You’re really that stingy over one piece of cake?” Zhou Yanjing teased. 

As he spoke, he lifted his hand slightly, and a half-bloomed Constance rosebud was gently tossed onto Lin Yuxi’s plate. 

The layers of soft pink petals, accompanied by a faint fragrance, landed delicately on the food. 

“I’ll make it up to you. Is that enough?” He looked down at Lin Yuxi. “If not, I can go pick more.” 

Lin Yuxi stared at the flower on the plate, silent for a few seconds. She held back but couldn’t resist in the end. 

“You didn’t wash your hands.” 

Zhou Yanjing:  

Zhou Yanjing gritted his teeth and pinched her cheek. “I forgot, our Dr. Lin has a cleanliness obsession.” 

Jiang Nan, standing nearby, had been watching Zhou Yanjing closely, noticing how he came back from outside, chased away the man chatting with Lin Yuxi, and wrapped his arm around her waist so intimately. 

Her eyes flickered as she excused herself from her friends and walked over, lifting her dress slightly. 

“Busy man, finished your call?” she teased. “Everyone’s waiting for you to play pool.” 

“Not playing.” Zhou Yanjing turned to Lin Yuxi. “Are you done eating? If so, let’s go home.” 

Jiang Nan’s smile faded. “You’re leaving so early? The party just started. Shi Tang and Yunfan have been looking for you.” 

“What do they want with me?” Zhou Yanjing said. “I’m not their mom.” 

Jiang Nan knew better than anyone how willful Zhou Yanjing could be. She had clashed with him over this in the past, leading to their breakup. Otherwise, Lin Yuxi wouldn’t even be in the picture. 

Once Zhou Yanjing decided to leave, no one could stop him. Jiang Nan didn’t push further but reminded him, “Don’t forget your clothes. They’re still upstairs, and the maid probably hasn’t had time to wash them.” 

Lin Yuxi listened quietly, not saying a word, before tossing the Constance rose from her plate into the trash. 

Zhou Yanjing noticed her action, his gaze lingering on the discarded flower for a second, his expression cooling slightly. 

“Throwing my flower away so easily?” 

Lin Yuxi said calmly, “It’s not my flower. Why would I keep it?” 

The flower was from Jiang Nan’s house, and so was the person. 

If it wasn’t hers, she didn’t want it. 

Zhou Yanjing’s face darkened. “What are you getting upset about now?” 

As tension thickened between them, Jiang Nan quickly stepped in, playing peacemaker. “Yanjing, why are you always so harsh with Yuxi?” 

Then, she turned to explain to Lin Yuxi, “Yuxi, it’s not what you think. Before you arrived, Shi Tang was messing around, spraying me with champagne, so I hid behind Yanjing. Shi Tang accidentally got champagne on his clothes, so he went upstairs to change.” 

“Please don’t misunderstand!” 

Lin Yuxi looked at Jiang Nan’s sincere expression and could easily picture the scene. Shi Tang teasing Jiang Nan, who then hid behind Zhou Yanjing, with Zhou protecting her. A single glance from him would make Shi Tang behave. 

What a cozy little family. 

Jiang Nan’s real purpose for inviting her today was to flaunt this in front of her, wasn’t it? 

She had done well. Lin Yuxi had unwittingly become a witness to their show of affection a role that she had played perfectly. Good luck finding a more accommodating wife. 

But Lin Yuxi’s patience had reached its limit. 

“No misunderstanding.” She put down her plate, disregarding any pretense of politeness, as it was no longer necessary. Without another word, she turned and left. 

“Yuxi!” Jiang Nan called out anxiously. When Lin Yuxi didn’t stop, she nudged Zhou Yanjing’s arm. “You should go after her, explain things so she doesn’t misunderstand.” 

“This has nothing to do with you,” Zhou Yanjing said, clearly irritated. He didn’t go after Lin Yuxi and instead strode out the door. 

“Yanjing, your clothes.”  

Without turning around, he coldly replied, “Throw them away.”